Folding sofa bed structure



Aug. 9, 1960 w. J. HELToN FOLDING SOFA BED STRUCTURE cillin.,

A118- 9, 1960 w. J. HELToN 2,947,997

FOLDING soFA BED STRUCTURE Filed March 6, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W. J. HELTON FOLDING SOFA BED STRUCTURE Aug. 9, 1960 Filed March e, 1957 2,947,997., noLnINGsoFA r`Bisi)dsrRUcrUnn J. Helton, Alfton, Mo., assignor to Foster Brothers Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporationl of -Delaware d Fired Maa-6, 1957, serLLNe. 644,291

Claims. :(Cl. 5 13) V This invention relates to a 1sofabed ofthe `class com- 'p risingl `a"plurality of interconnected-folding sections which,"when `,unfolded in s ub'stantiallyn`horizontal align- `form a bed, andv whichrn'ay befrnoved 'into folded lends itselfftolbe conveniently 'desi edfor niost'desirable ,operating:Chetistibs fer the' ickns -fiv "hdlle Vprovision fof a bed4 of thisclas's having independent fabric supports fonniattress supporft "when, the device lis in `use asa bed, and for a jsota cushion support'when evice is wie asie wie, .sid s pperfslareiding the," lise of an upholstery board for 'anchoring Ypl'irposes Iand 't ereby minimizing unsupporteclnraigginal cushion tareas. bein Part esperant and in .ivlliielindiaed i fdl@ ,dans l-,Intheccomrsnvrnsdrawine re. rossibe embodimetsl@fthainvegons .illustrated Pig. 1is` `a halfplanview'ofthe improved bed inunfolded bed-forming position, the usual mattress, cushions Fig. 2 isa fragmentary right-"sideelevation of Fig. 1, ff-wfls-A in dash` lines` the` ioeatiorjl 0f, @mattress and sonektriin; f ',Eig. lZijis a complete right-side elevation similar'to LEigf showing an intermediate step `in folding the sections `'from bed to sofa "cogurationy p Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a subsequent folding step;

1 Fig. 5" isa view similarto il, showing theA parts foldedinto sofa-forming position" and showing` in addi- `tional dash lines the application of a sofa cushion, parts being broken awayforclarity; if Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail crosssecton taken on lines sisef Fig-sm ema; n

*Figi-Tis an enlarged detail cross section taken on lines 8 1s aner'ilarged verticali cross tlie dinal'center'line of the` sofaishowiirgth upp'ort ofafcushionland the'adj ndr; of messing fabric, ses L i f States Patent-"LO is illustrated. It is to be understood that the description Fig-9 is a een parientes fthe leaking mechanism for the cushion support fratrie in the position vshown in Fig. 4, but drawn to an enlarged scale..

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. For clarity, and unless otherwise indicated, rigid connections which `are -formed by equivalent rivets, Weldments, bolts, screws, etc., are indicated in plan by means of small right-angular crosses. Since the construction is symmetrical, both sides of the device consisting of parts which are glove-images of one another, only one side of one side serves for both.

yReferring now to the drawings, there -is shown in general -at Fthe usual sofa .frame, generally composed of wood and forming vthe foundation for the usual upholstery and trim employed. This `frame F consists of side secn tions 1, providing supporting spans 3, uprights '2 and 4, anda'rmie'sts 5. The side sections 1 are joined by upper back-forming crossbraces 7.` They are also joined `by flower-back and front cross braces 9 and 11, respectively.

The `side `sections 1 and the forward cross brace '11 also formthe supports 'for two rigid metal assemblies of subirames. These subfran'res are attached to the wood frame Fgby means of bolts l EachI z'subfrarne 6 `consists of anjgularly` related bars 15 "andhl'r, held relatively rigid by a corner brace 19. "Each of these subfiames 4supports one of a'pair of lateral linkages,` theflinkages being transversely connected, as vvill appear (Fig. 1) to forni a plurality of sections,` namely, a bed' outer end or sofa cushion-mounting upper "secti on ,La .bed ford. or -sefa'frent section rr, a bed intermediate or sofalower section I l'l, and a bed inner or sofamrear `section IV, respectively, Before` describing such sections,

the linkages 'will be described. Inasmuch as the` linkages on` oppositesides are identical, 4the description of the one willfsuicefor both. V

Referring then to lthe right-side linkage, a pin 2l' on ,fixed bar 17 forms aied pivot for an angulairly formed first ,double-curved swing link 23. `A "second pin 25ffon iiedbar` l1 15 forms aixed pivot for a second swing link `27. lThe swing link 213 carries a pin A29, running @pivot withn angleiron' side bar 31 ofsection IV Bar`31 carries a pin 33 for`rr'1ii'1g a pivot for one Aend of `a curved 'link',35. `The other end of link 35 is pinned to `theupper .end v,Qt-swing l27 `(ses pivet pin 3,7).` rire upper `end of swing link 27 Vca'rres` another pivot pin 39, `slightly oiset fro'mpin 37, forring a pivotal connection with a bell crank 41, lwhich in turn is pivoted at i5 to an angle iron side bar 43 of intermediate section III. The rear and ,erf bamsspiveted te the forward end 'of bar s1 A (see pivot pin 47) .Y

A oontrol i9 i's atene endiiVQted. to the outermost., end of `link` 2 3 by iiieansoi a pin 5l and at its other inner efndt an intermediate pivot 53,611 curved linlej.

Rivetd te 1in-k 27 is a mg 55, tefvvhien s leerse eine se is pivoted athil. TwotensionA springs 6l are attache d to rocker plate 5 9. The other ends of these springs are attached to a rocker plate d3, pivoted at 65 to` an angle 67` 1jigidly attached to the bar i The bell crank 41 carriesathird pivot pini, for-pivot ing o ne end of a iirst drag link 7 1. The other end-of link '71 is pivoted at 73 to a mid portion of a foldingl leg A75. The leg carriesa lowerucaster 7.7 and atits upper end4 pivoted toian angle lug Slffastenedl to the end of said bar i3\ off intermediate section' `.Riveted tothe bottom of the bar 43 is the horiiontal bot- .torn side 8.3 of an angle iron, verticalside o fv'vhich forms a plate 35 (see Fig. plate 85 isheldin Vsection I.

-pivot y45 and through pin 69 forms a driving member for links 71, 93.

Pivoted at 95 to the outer end of bar 43 is an angle iron bar 97 of fold section II. Pivots 91 and 95 are separate. They are coaxial only when the parts are in the positions shown in Figs. l-3, 6 and 7. Pivoted at 99 to the outer end of the bar 97 is an angle iron bar 101 of outer section I. Pivoted at 93 to the bar 97 is a stop forming bar 100. Bar 100 carries a pin 102 at its other end, which slides in a slot 104 cut into the vertical side of the bar 43 (see Fig. 7). The slots S7 and 104 are in transversely spaced vertical planes. As above remarked, pivot 95 is in'concentric alignment with pin 89 when the pin is in its position corresponding to the positions of it in Figs. 2 and 3. At this time pin 102 is forward in its slot 104. It moves to the other end of the slot in the Fig. 3 configuration.

At 103 is shown a link ywhich is partly channel shaped, having spaced inner and outer sides 105 and 107, respectively. The side 105 rotates on said pivot 95 on bar 43. Its other end is pivoted at 109 to a link 111, the latter at its outer end being pivoted at 113 on the bar 101 of outer Pivot 113 is at an intermediate point on bar 101. v

In the outer side 107 of the link 103 is a slot 115 which preferably, though not necessarily, is curved on one side l117, as shown. One end of this slot has the same radius of curvature as, and is concentric with the pin 89, when the parts are in the positions shown in Figs. 2,73 and 6.

Pivoted at 119 at the outer end of the bar 101 is a folding leg 121. The upper end ofV this leg is provided with a iixed lug 120, pivoted at 123 to a link 125. The other end of link 125 is pivoted at 127 to the bar 97. Motion of leg 1211* is limited by engagement of a notch 137. in it with pin 139.

Plate 85 and link 103 have relative angular motion about pin 89 when they move from the Figure 2 position to the Figure 3 position and vice versa. Thereafter as the front board 147 is lifted and the parts moved from Figure 3 position to Figure 4 position, drag link 93, actuated by bell crank 41, moves pin 89 to the right, thus locking sections I, II, and III against relative angular movement. If the folding mattress 149 offers resistance to the latter, the edges 88 and 117 of slots 87 and 115 act as cams and pin 89 forces the slotted parts into substantial alignment which forces section I into parallel relation with section III, as well as locking these parts against unfolding until pin 89 is again moved to the left by bell crank 41 and link 93.

There is a pair of linkages such as above described, one

on each side of the sofa bed. Their bars, links and levers are in pairs and operate in parallel by reason of the rollowing cross connections between the linkages. Starting with the side bars 31, these are cross connected by means of riveted cross braces 129 and 131, thus establishing inner section IV as a rigid assembly. There are no cross braces connecting the bars 43 but they will be referred to as the intermediate section III because they are sufiiciently braced by adjacent sections and by reason ofV cross brace 141 connecting the folding legs 75 of this section III. The short bars 97 are joined by a riveted cross brace 133. At the outer end of the bars 101 is welded a curved as aspace filler and cushion support in the gap between board 147 and cross brace 133. Member 145 and brack- LAand IV. This is accomplished as to section 151 by helical ,springs, or so-called helicals 155 hooked laterally in open- Atoward the Fig. 4 position (see dart B, Fig. 4).

ets 143 support board 147 independently of any conneci tion with cross brace 133 which has its legs disposed diagonally of the general plane of front section II. When the sections are :in sofa-forming position (Figures 5, 8) the outer edge of the upwardly extending leg of cross brace 133, to which fabric 151 is attached, is no higher than the general plane of the fabric while the remainder of the angle depends from the fabric plane and is below the level of the horizontal leg of front board angle 145. When the sections are in co-planar bed-forming position (Figure 2) the outer corner of angle iron cross brace 133 points downwardly and the entire angle is below the general plane of fabrics 151, 153. At each end of cross brace 133 its legs are spread into a common-plane, at terminal riveted to the adjacent side bar 47 offront section II.

A mattress is shown in dotted lines at numeral 149 in Figs. 2-5. The mattress is supported by two separate sections of articulated eXible Wire fabric. One section is Vnumbered 151 and the other section 153 (Fig. l). The

section 151 is supported across the bed in sections II, III

ings in bars 31, 43 and 97 and endwise in openings in cross braces 129, 133. The section 153 is supported in outer sectionV I by coil springs or helicals 157, which are laterally hooked in openings in bars 101 and at their outer ends are hooked into openings formed in the cross braces 133, 135. Movement of bed outer section I carrying the section 153 relative to cross brace 133 of fold section II causes some relative movement of the margin of the fabric section 153 adjacent to brace 133. This is compensated by stretching of adjacent ones of c the springs 157.

Operation is as follows, starting with the bed-forming configuration of parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and speaking in the plural in regard to both side linkages:

The operator grasps the endwise cross brace 135 and moves it archwise (see dart A, Fig. 3) in a direction toward the frame F, which hinges sections I and II relative to section III and brings the parts into the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein several events have occurred. First, section II has rotated on the pivots Y connecting it with section IIII. The pins 102 of bars 4100 have moved to the inner ends of the slots 104, thus stopping section II in the vertical position relative to section III shown in Fig. 3. During this movement section I has rotated forward relative to section II, pivoting at 99. At the same time, legs 121 have been angled partially inward toward the bars 101, because of the 'thrusting action of link 125 between its pivots 123 and 127.V The action thus far described has only partially folded the `mattress, and has involved little reaction on the hands of this step the following events occur automatically: First, the original straight-line relationship between the pairs of bars 31 and 43 in Fig. 3 is broken at the pivot points 47 (Fig. 4) between sections III and IV. Then, by reason of Ythe vconstrained-motion relationship between pairs of bars 31, 43, upper legs of bell cranks 41, and links 35, the bell cranks 41 rotate to pull upon drag links 71 and 93. Drag links 71 then start to pull and fold in the legs 75. At this time, the drag links 93 pull the pins 89 along the slots 87 in the plates V85 which are attached to bars 43. At the beginning of this movement (as shown in Fig. 3) the slots 115 in V,links 103 are at an Vangle to the slots 87. Consequently, the pins 89 in their .constrained .movements forward along slots 87, tend to force the lslots into general alignment as the Fig. 4 position is reached. In other words the pivots 109 are drawn Ydowntoward bars 43. action is transmitted During E? u through links V111 to -bars 1531, and 4consequeritly to the entire section I whichpresse's down rin a .folding `direction upon the mattress. This closing and mattressfolding action of section I relative to section `III .requires no assistance by pressure on 'oar 135, .and `responds onlyo pressure on the upholstery board 147..` t A Another action that occurscbetween .the .Fig..3. and Fig. 4 positions of parts is that the linksV 125 furtherrotate legs 121 into positions wherein the notches 137 engage the pins 139, thus limiting the infolding of said legs.

Figure 4 shows the. parts in a temporary .intermediate folding (or unfoldingyposition and `this figure does not necessarily indicate adwell :in the folding operation.'` It does indicatea position when .the outer end of'link 27 is nolonger rising but has moved Lpast a point vertically above its pivot 25 and `is descending.` `,In this .position the left hand two-thirds ofthemattresszhas beenl doubled on itself and the overlying .portions have been squeezed toward each other and `framingV sectionsl IandflII Vare locked against .movement `away fromi each otherr by the spacing of -pin `89 in theright lhand portionsfofslots '87 and 115 in plate 85aridiluik-'103.` The foldedendof section I is so held that, with continued inwardmovement of the lfolded `sections I and III, cross` brace 135 will `passrunlerthe lower `back` cross brace?.` There-remains a rfinal folding and squeezing action as theoperator pushes the footboard 147 downwardly and the sections move to the position shown in Figure where pin 89 has shifted furthertoward the right hand ends of slots 87 and 115 in `plate 85 and link 2103iz `The weight of the parts after passing the Fig. 4 position o (approgimately) tends to carry them-toward-their final-Fig. 5 positiomand in order partially to counterbalance.thisn action for convenient subsequent `unfoldingijtlie. springs 61 havebeen caused by the linkage. to stretch, `.exertingthe required partial counterbalancing actionthough not enough in vieu/bf friction to return the,sectionsA frormthesofa-forming `con- `figuration ofFig. 5, without `some manual assistane.1 A final downward push on the upholstery board 147 causes the configuration of Fig. 5 to be reached which is maintained by gravity.

Unfolding is accomplished by lightly lifting up on the upholstery board 147 and drawing it forward. This action is aided by the partially counterbalancing tension in the springs 61. Then the parts are brought out through the Figs. 4 and 3 positions to the position of Figs. 1 and 2. In passing from the Fig. 4 to the Fig. 3 position, the pins 89 return to the forward ends of the aligned slots 87, 115, thus permitting plates 85 and 107 to angle apart. Then the braces 135 are grasped to rotate sections I and II into the bed-forming configuration of Figs. 1 and 2. During this movement, pins 102 move forward along slots 104. Sections I and II are held coplanar by contact between the ends of bars 43 and 97 adjacent pivot 95.

In the Fig. 5 sofa position, the section 153 isV uppermost and is adapted to receive a cushion 161, shown in dotted lines. Therefore, section I, which contains wire fabric section 153, may be called a cushion section. The forward edge of the cushion 161 rests upon the top of the filler bar 145 of upholstery board 147. Since section 153 does not extend beyond cross brace 133, a space would be left between cross brace 133 and top of the upholstery section 147, except for the fact that the space filler bar 1145, carried on brackets 143, has been introduced in position in this space, so as to form said support for the marginal portions of the cushion spanning the space.

From the above it will be seen that the invention provides several advantages:

First, movement of the mattress, from the unfolded position shown in Fig. 2 to the folded position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is brought about by locking means which is automatic in thev sense that locking action is responsive simply to the operators action in folding the sections I, II, III and IV from the bed` position (Fig. 2) to the .sofa

4may ,beA usedwor both slots may be straight.

`position (Fig. 5;).` No additional manual operation for locking purposes is required, aside from this folding movement..

Secondly, sections` `I andIII actuate the lockirigmeans -throughthe .permanently secured` pinned section II and the permanently .pinnedxlinkage 103, 111 which is constrained as` .to movement. This eliminates operating diculties `arisiligfrom looseness of latches often used `to effect manual locking operation, particularly latches and the like that require movements in addition to folding and unfolding movements of the bed sections. Thus it is not necessary .to =press .down upon section I in the Fig. 3 position, as.wou1d `be theJcaseifthe `additional latching operation wererequired. ...'lhetautomatic folding operation aiforded byrtheslotted lockingmeans 85, `107 avoids this neceslsityfor an` additional-locking operation. Moreover, no `significant.resistance to smooth action is encountered by `reason of the .automatic latching action during the infolding or unfolding movements ofsections -I, II, III, IV. `One reason. for this .smooth action will be seen from Fig. 4; .This figure illustrates the final locking action. This final locking action has brought to bear on it the gravitating force` ofthe `parts as they move `from the Fig.` 4 to the Fig. 5 position. This reduces the required pushing effort on board 147 during final stages of folding. The characteristics of the locking action may readily be modi- `fied in design iby control of the shapes of the slots and 87. VIn the example given, the edge 88 of slot 87 is straighLand lower edge` `11'7 ofV slot 115 is slightly curved, but it will be understood that other curvatures Moreover, there .is an. absence of any lost motion in the locking action, sinceypin. 89 is effective as an operating wedge throughoutitstraverse in slots 87 and 115 in order to bring about locking.

` Another advantage of the invention is in the independence ofthe two .wire'fabric supports 151 and 153 relative to'ech othei andto the upholstery board and iiller strip. This avoids wire *fabric spring connections with the upholstery board or its supporting structure and minimizes the wire fabric compensating stretch required in opening and closing movements.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

VAs various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. A folding sofa bed comprising iirst, second, third and fourth pinned folding sections, a locking mechanism between said first and third sections including a cam link rotatable about the pin between the second and third sections, a first cam-forming portion aiiixed to said link, a connecting link between said cam link and thetirst section, a second cam-forming portion affixed to the third section, a member slidable between said cam-forming portions, a lever pivoted to the third section, linkage means adapted to move said lever in response to relative movements between the third and fourth sections, and a drag link connecting said lever with said slidable member, said lever and drag link being adapted in response to action of said linkage upon relative movements between the third and fourth sections to drive said slidable member between said cam-forming portions, said cam link through said connecting link positively driving said first section toward the third section.

2. A sofa bed made according to claim 1, including at least one leg pivoted to each of the first and third sections, a link pivoted to the leg on the iirst section and pivoted to the second section and adapted to fold said leg inward upon locking action, at .least one leg pivoted to the third section, and a drag link pivoted to locking movement.

3. A mattress folding and locking mechanism for use in sofa beds having rst, second, third and fourth adjacently pin jointed foldable section-s articulated with a frame; comprising a irst cam member pivoted at the pin joint between the second and third sections, its outline extending to a point opposite said pin joint, a second cam member affixed to the third section, its outline also ex tending to a point opposite said pin joint, a follower movable along both cam members from the point opposite said pin joint, a driving linkage connected with said follower, said linkage beingarticulated between the pivoted third and fourth `sections and adapted in response to relative movements between said third and fourth sections to move said follower away from a position on the second cam member opposite the -pin joint located between the second and third sections, and a driving link joining the first cam member with the iirst section. Y

4. A mattress folding and locking mechanism for use in sofa beds having iirst, second, third and fourth adjacently pin jointed foldable sections articulated with a frame; comprising a iirst slotted member pivoted at the pin joint between the second and third sections, its slot extending to a point opposite said pin joint, a second slotted member aixed to the third section, its slot also extending to a point opposite said pin joint, a follower movable in both slots from the point opposite the pin joint, links pivoted to each other and to said follower and movable by relative pivoting of the third and fourth sections to move said follower along said slots to shift said slotted members and the corresponding sections relative to each other, and a driving link connecting the first slotted member with the rst section and responsive `to relative movements between the rst and second sections to Vrotate said first slotted member around the pin joint between 'the second and third sections, said first slotted member also acting through said linkl to move the iirst section relative to the third section, whereby upon initial folding movements of the first and second sections from coplanar positions the first slotted member is brought into an angular position relative to the second slotted member such that upon infolding movements of the third and fourth sections from coplanar positions said follower will be drawn away from the pivot point between the seco-nd and third sections to angle said slots toward one another and draw the iirst section toward the third section.

5. In a folding sofa bed comprising first, second, third and fourth sections arranged successively end to end with pinned connections between adjacent ends of the sections, an elongated member swinging about the pinned connection between the second and third sections and having an elongated slot, there being an elongated slot in ythe outer end portion of the third section, a link from the lswinging end of said member to a point on the first section spaced Vfrom its pinned connection to the second section, a lever fulcrumed on the third section having a link connection to the fourth section which shifts the lever when the third and fourth sections move relatively about their pinned connection, a drag link connecting said lever to a pin and drawing said pin along said slots from the pivo-ted end of said member toward its opposite end to lock the lirst and third sections against relative angular movement, and to positively thrust the first section toward the third section, when the outer end of the bed is folded, said lever and drag link moving said pin in the opposite direction when the bed is unfolded.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

